Improvement in projectiles



IlniTTnb STaTns FaThNT @TraceE ROBERT VEIR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IIVIPROVEMLENT IN PROJECTILES.

Specication forming part of Leiters Patentv No. 35,795, dated July 1, 1862.

To @ZZ whom, zit may 0071/067177,

Be it known that I, ROBERT WEIR, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Proj ectiles, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon.

My improved projectile consists of an elongated and pointed head, and a stem at the rear of the same, the said stem being composed of alternate ribs and grooves, and the whole being constructed substantially as described here inafter, so that the said ribs and grooves may serve to maintain the projectile in a direct course during its iiight, whether' through water or air.

In order to enable others to make my invention, I will n ow proceed to describe the manner in which it is constructed.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a side view of my improved projectile, and Fig. 2 a View of the rear end ot' the same.

The head A is of the elongated form represented in Fig. l, and has the pointed end common to `ordinary elongated projectiles.

From the rear ofthe head A projects a stem, B, which meets the head with a gentle curve, a, the diameter of the stem being one-half, or thereabout, that of the head, and the length of the latter being considerably less than that of the stem, the relative proportions of stem and head being, in fact, similar or nearly similar to those illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

On reference to the rear view, Fig. 2, it will be observed that the stem B is composed of a number of ribs, c a, between which are the grooves b b, the latter extending from the eX- treme rear of the stem to the curved junction as ofthe latter with the head A, at which junc tion the grooves gradually terminate in a point, y. v

D is the cartridge-case, which may be composed of any of the materials usually employed for the same purpose, the case being secured to the rear of the head, and being of sufticient length to contain an appropriate charge of powder. Y

In discharging projectiles through a body of water, it is well known that they will invaria` bly deviate from a direct course, owing to the absence ofl any proper guiding medium.

It will be evident that in my improved pro jectile the alternate grooves and ribs of the light stem extending far to the rear of the heavier portion of the projectile must serve as guides for maintaining the head in a direct course, the effect of the alternate grooves and projections being the same whether the projectile is propelled through air or through water.

Although the stem in the present instance is composed of four projections, the number of the latter willdepend upon the size of the projectile. If the latter should be required for riiled ordnance, the projections and recesses ofthe stem should be arranged spirally to correspond with the spiral grooves of the cannon.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The proj ectile consisting of the elongated and pointed head A and the stem I3, the latter being composed of alternate ribs and grooves, and the whole being constructed substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth..

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specilication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

R. VEIR.

Vitnesses:

CHARLEs E. Fosirn, JOHN WHITE. 

